NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

European Parliament resolution on the arrest of human rights defenders in Sudan, notably the case of Sakharov Prize laureate Salih Mahmoud Osman(2018/2631(RSP))

B8‑0163/2018

The European Parliament,

-having regard to its previous resolutions on Sudan

-having regard to the Cotonou Agreement,

-having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

-having regard to the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,

-having regard to the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,

-having regard to the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders;

-having regard to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights,

-having regard to Rules 135(5) and 123(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas on February 1, 2018, Mr. Salih Mahmoud Osman was arrested at his office in Khartoum and has since then been detained incommunicado within the Khartoum NISS premises;

B. whereas several human rights defenders, journalists, bloggers, civil society and political party leaders, students and other individuals were detained in relation to their participation in nation-wide peaceful protests against rising commodity prices,

C. whereas these arrests and mass detentions occur in reaction to nation-wide demonstrations that began on January 6, 2018 and were set off by the announcement of Sudan’s 2018 budget and the lifting of subsidies and measures, which effectively tripled Sudan’s U.S. dollar exchange rate and increased the price of basic commodities;

D. whereas the police and the NISS have used excessive force to disperse and arrest protesters, including the reported use of tear gas and beatings with sticks and water hose pipes, leading to the death of one protester and several others injured, as well as nationwide crackdown on journalists and activists;

E. whereas on January 16, 2018, Ms. Nahid Jabrallah Director of the Sima Centre for Training and Protection of Women and Children’s Rights, and Ms. Amel Habani, award-winning journalist and Coordinator in the No Oppression Against Women Initiative in Sudan, were arrested in Khartoum as they were taking part in peaceful protests; both were detained by the NISS at the Omdurman Women’s Prison, whereas Ms. Nahid Jabrallah was detained incommunicado since her arrest despite particularly delicate health conditions as she was involved in a car accident prior to her arrest;

F. whereas acts of ill-treatment against Ms. Amel Habani have been reported as she was allegedly beaten with an electric rod during interrogation; whereas on January 29, 2018, she was allowed a visit from her mother and her two children in the presence of NISS agents but was denied a visit from her husband and did not have access to her lawyer while detained; whereas a constitutional appeal contesting the lawfulness of her detention was filed on February 5, 2018 on her behalf against the Government of Sudan and the NISS and is still pending to date;

G. whereas on January 17, 2018, Ms. Rawa Jaafar Bakhit, advocate for the rights of displaced families, and Mr. Mohamed Abdallah Aldouma, Chairperson of the Darfur Bar Association, were arrested as they were taking part in other protests in Omdurman; whereas Mr. Mohamed Abdallah Aldouma, was detained at Shalla prison, in North Darfur, where he was transferred on January 26;

H. whereas on January 18, 2018, Mr. Amjed Fareed, blogger and human rights defender, was arrested from his home and has since been detained incommunicado within the NISS premises;

I. whereas on January 31, 2018, Ms. Hanan Hassan Khalifa, human rights lawyer, was detained in Khartoum Bahri at a police/NISS checkpoint in the main street targeting the people heading to join a protest and was further detained incommunicado the Omdurman Women’s Prison,;

J. whereas also on January 31, Mr. Ahmed Jadeen, journalist with Aljareeda newspaper, and Mr. Mohammed Abdulmonim, freelance journalist, were arrested in Khartoum Bahri while they were covering protests; whereas they are being detained at the NISS political section in Khartoum Bahari and held incommunicado;

1. Strongly condemns the arbitrary arrest by Sudanese forces of Salih Mahmoud Osman, Sakharov Prize Laureate of 2007 and Vice-President of the Darfur Bar Association, as well as all other human rights defenders, bloggers, journalists and civil society activists, and urges the Sudanese authorities to immediately release them;

2. Condemns in the strongest possible terms the practice of torture and ill-treatment towards any detained persons, including human rights defenders; Insists that all detainees’ conditions comply with international standards, including the United Nations’ Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment;

3. Commends the work of Mr Osman and other human rights defenders, which paves the way for accountability and justice in Sudan and beyond;

4. Condemns the crackdown on protesters, human rights defenders, student activists, journalists, attorneys, academics, civil society and political party leaders and other activists, with the authorities using arbitrary arrests and excessive force to deal with peaceful protesters demonstrating against rising food prices;

5. Reiterates that Sudanese authorities must cease targeting all human rights defenders and activists and guarantee in all circumstances that they are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisal and free of all restrictions and harassment;

6. Calls on the government of Sudan to immediately stop the harassment of the media and allow the media in Sudan to publish and broadcast without fear;

7. Calls on the Sudanese authorities to investigate all allegations of torture and ill-treatment, and bring perpetrators to justice; Emphasises that any purported information collected as a result of torture and ill-treatment must never be used as admissible evidence for legal proceedings;

8. Urges the Sudanese government to ensure in all circumstances the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and with international and regional human rights instruments ratified by Sudan, including the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders;

9. Urges the EU and Member States to prioritise and increase the support and protection of human rights defenders at risk, as key actors for societal resilience, the rule of law, human rights and sustainable development;

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the European External Action Service, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the parliaments and governments of the Member States, the President of Sudan, the Chairman of the African Union, the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and the Pan-African Parliament.